Dinny McGinley (Donegal South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 182: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if the conservation grant scheme programme is operational; when the allocations will be announced in order that planned works of conservation can be proceeded with; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21672/09]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 184: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 587 of 22 April 2009, the position regarding the allocation to Roscommon County Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21702/09]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 182 and 184 together.

Allocations for the various programmes and schemes under the 2009 built heritage capital programme have now been finalised. Successful applicants and relevant organisations, including the local authorities, are being notified of their allocations. Details on the various allocations are set out below.

Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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Question 183: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the rationale underpinning cuts to the library services; the consequences of these actions; and if he will seek to ensure that these cuts are reversed as well as to ensure that local authorities will be asked to ring-fence these necessary library services. [21698/09]

Michael Finneran (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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My Department provides funding towards the capital costs of approved new libraries and the refurbishment of existing libraries along with funding for mobile libraries and delivery vans, and recently launched the 2009-2010 Capital Programme amounting to €8.5 million in 2009. I will also be providing some €1.6m this year towards current expenditure relating to the public library service.

Funding of most day to day operations in the public library service is a matter for each local authority in its capacity as a library authority. Funding is allocated in accordance with priorities set by the authority as part of the annual budgetary process and the total funding available to it from a range of sources.

I am confident that despite the pressure on public finances generally, library authorities will make every effort to support the public library service given the valuable social, educational and cultural services which they provide to communities at local level.